Headlight.



CHARLES'R. C. BORDER', OF ROOKLINE, MASSACUSETTS.

HEADLIGHT.

i ',.i cacao.

`Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 20, 1916.

Application tiled November 1,` 1915. Serial No. 58,953.

l To ali who-m t may concern.:

lle it known that I, CHARLES R.' C. Bonnur. aeitizcn of the UnitedStates, residing at llrooliline, county otNorfolk, Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inl'i'cadlights of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobile headlight'. devices andparticularly to a headlight capable of a verticalfdroop or depression ofits focal axis in order to avoid the glarel upon an approaching driveral- .though maintaining at the same time a suitable illumination 4of theintervening space.

The danger from the overpowering effect o fl a lheadlight which issupported on suitof a powerful headlight on the eyes of an approachingdriver is well recognized. The frequency of collisions or' otheraccidents .from the temporary blinding of a driver by an approachinglight are common.

ln my present invention, I provide for the drooping of 'the axis ofillumination -so that the zone of intense illumination is brought belowthe lbvel of the usual plane and at the same time l provide forshifting.

the focus so that the illumination `of .the preceding space is madepossible under suitable conditions oi driving.

l am well aware that dirigihle headlightsn so called'have been provided,particularly with reference to the turning movement of the carinrounding a curve. I am also aware that headlights have been providedwhich might' he steered or directed in any 4direction.r rlhe presentinvention however involves something' more thany the mere y shifting olthe axis of illumination of a headlight with respect to its normal zoneVviding for a simultaneous shifting of the focal angle commensurate withthe degree of variance of the axis of illumination from its normalplane. By the term axis of illumination, as used herein. is meant theplane through the, source of light perpendicular to the axis of thereflector.

The construction and operationof my invention will be more fullydisclosed in 'itself a form found satisfactory tice.

13 between the front wall of the bearin the Y specification whichfollows. Iii the drawings accompanying that specification- IA have showna` headlight .which not only.

illustrates the principles involved but is in 1 Throughoutspecifications and drawings I like reference numerals are correspondinapplied and in these drawings-n- .Figure 1 is a..central' longitudinalsection through `a headlight in accordance with my invention showing infull and dotted lines two positions of the head light,faii`d Fig. 2 is aview showing an automobile equipped with my headlights.

I have indicated at 1 the casing` or shell able brackets 2 fixedto thebodyl of an automobile 3. The shell 1 has a ring 4 secured toits openend and the ring has a continuously recessed rim 5 in which the lens'6is fitted. f y u Within the casing 1 is mounted a suitiible reflectorshell 7. v.The shell 7 is shifted to vary vthe axis of illumination by ayoke shaped lever 8' extending through a slot 9 in the casing 1 and lasuitable connection 10 fastened at one end to the lever 8 andterminatingat its opposite end in conveniently operable positionadjacent the drivers seat. llector shell 7 isv resisted-by a coil spring1lV fastened to the lever 8 and to the shell 1. The spring llreturns thereflector shell to original position when the'connection 10 is released.

The shifting movement of the reL uSlidahly mounted in' a bearing 12 setaxially in the reflector shell 7 is a sleeve 13 carrying the usualcontacts 14 for an incandescent bulb 15 screwed into said Sleeve;l

One otthe, connections for the bulb 15 is wall 17 adapted for slidingcontact with a downwardly tapering cam surface v-18 formed on the curvedrear wall ofthe casing l above the focal axis of the headlight. The bulb15 therefore moves with the movement of the reflector shell and as theWallel 17 slides along the cam surface 18the bulb is moved outwardlyagainst the resistance of a coil spring 19 confined about the sleeve l12 and the closed end of the sleeve 13 to a just its focal axis to'thel'new axis of illuminaio original position upon return of therefier-tor shell to its original position.

ln use when it is desired to shift the axis ol' illiim'iiiation` theconnection 10 is drawn rearwardly to Yswing the rellcctorshell 7foi'ivai'dlyaud downwardly indicated in dialed lines, Fig. l, carryingthe sleeve 13 and bulb 1.3 upwardly.' The cam surface 18 causes the.sleeve 13 to slide outwardlyin its hearing lla distance proportionate tothe degree of depression of the reflector shell to automaficallv adjustthe'focal. axis to the new axis of illumination. This provides for :inintense illumination ot the road im-` meiiiafely ahead of ther car andrelieves the driver e .iai approaching car of the-objectionable glare.,"the means for Shifting flic reflector shell may obviously be varied ifdesired, as may be means for effecting a movement of the incandescentbulb proportionate to the angle of inclination of thereflector shell.These and -arious other modifications in the form and construction of mydevice may obviously be resorted to if within the limits ot the appendedclaims.

What l therefore claim and desire to secure hy Letters Patent is:

,. L'gfdn headlight equii'rment!7 a reflector haviilg a predeterminedaxis of...illiimina fionft souiee'ot light associated with saidreflector and having a normal focal axis coincident with said axis ofillumination, and means for simultaneously varying both axes withoutdestroying their coincidence.

ln headlight equipment, a reflector having a predetermined axis ofillumination, a source of light associated with said -reflector andhaving a normal focal axis c0- incident with said axis of illuminatiom.

means for simultaneously varying hoth axes without destroyingtheircoincidence. and means for restoring hoth axes to their i'espcctireoriginal positions.

il. in headlight equipment, a reflector having a predetermined axis ofillumination, a source of light assoieiated with said reflector andhaving a normal focal axis coincident. with said axis of illumination,

means for shifting the axis of illumination and means for simultaneouslyshifting the focal axis to coincide with the new axis.

4.111 headlight equipment, av reflector.

havinga predetermined axis of illiiiiii`nati 'in,

source of light associated with said reflector and having a normalfocalaxislcoiinci- Vdent with said axis of illumination, means forshifting the axis of illumination, means -for simultaneously shiftingthe ioeal axisI to coincide with Ahe new axis, and means for restoringboth axes to their respective original positions. i

5. In headlight equipment, a shiftalile ref' flector having apredetermined axis of illumination, a. source of light associated withsaid reflector and movable therewith, means for shifting the reflectorto vary its axis Aof illuminatiom `and means for simulta- ,neouslyadjusting the focal axis to coincide with the new" axis offillumination.

6. In headlight equipment, a shiftaliile relector .having apredetermined axis of illumination, a source of light axially mounted insaid reflector and movable therewith, means for shifting the reflectortovary itsy Iflector having aV predetermined. axis of illumination, asource of light iecipi'ocally mounted in said reflector and movabletherewith; means for shifting the reflector angularly to vary its axisof illumination, and a cam for simultaneously moving the ysource ot'light outwardly a distance proportionate to the degree of inclination ofthe reflector tol cause its lfocal axis to coincide with the new axis ofillumination.

8. ln headlight equipment7 a. casing, ar shifta'lile reflector thereinhaving a predetermined axis of illumination, a source of light `mountedin said reflector to move therewith, a carrier for said source of'light, means for shifting said reflcetorto vary its axis ofillumination, and means positioned for engageineiit with saiflcarrierfor simultaneously moving the sinne a distance corresponding tothe-dcgree ofvariatio'n of the .reflector to ci'iusethe focal axis ofthe source of light to coincide with the'new axis of illumination of thereflector.

9. ln headlight equipment, a` easing, a shift able reflector thereinhavingfa predeteri'nined A axis of illuniiiiatii'in, a sourccoff lightreciprocally mounted in vsaid reflector and moving therewith. a carrierfor said source of light, nieans for shifting said reflector angiilarlyto vary1 its axis of illumination, and means positioned 'forcngagementwith said carrier for siiiiiiltaneo'usly moving the same outwardly .adistance corresponding to .the

degree of angular variation of the reflector to'causethe focalaxis ofthe source of light to coincide with -fhe new axis of illumination otthe reflector.

10. l'nheadlight eqiiipmeiit, a casing, a shiftahlc `reflector thereinhaving apredetcrmined axis .of illumination, a source'of lightrcciprocally vmounted in said reflector to move Atherewith and having anormal `focal gixiscoincident with the axis of illumination7 a carrierfoiisaid source of light, means for shifting said reflector angularly tovary its axis of ilhin'iiiiiition.a cam positioned `for en- 'gageincntvwith saiilearrier for simultaneous-ly moving the saine outwardly adistance axis of illumination, and means for siinultlcorresponding vtothe degree of angular variation of the reflector toy cause the focalaxis of the,source of light to coincide with the new axis ofillumination of the reflector, and means for restoring hoth thereflector and the source of light to-their respective originalpositions.

l1. In headlight equipment, a casing, a-

flector, to secure a new focal axis coincident.

. with the new. axis of illumination, and means for returmng the sleeveto original lso position upon return of the reflector to orig'- inalposition.

12.`.In headlight equipment, a casing, a shiftahle reflector thereinhaving a predetermined axis of illumination, a sleeve movably mounted insaid reflectorA and carrying a sourceof light'having a focal axisnormally coinciding with the axis of illumination of the reflector,means for shifting said re- `flector to vary its'axis of illumination, a

spring for returning said reflector to original'position, meanspositioned for engagement with said sleeve to simultaneously move saidsource of light outwardly a distance corresponding. to the degreel .ofshift' ing'movement of the reflector, to secure a new focal axiscoincident with the newaxis of illumination, and means for returning thesleeve to original position. f

13. In headlight equipment, a casing, a shiftahle reflector thereinhaving a predetermined axis of illumination, a sleeve movably mounted insaid reflector and carrying a source of light having a focal axisnormally coinciding with the ax1s,of illumination of the reflector,means 'for shifting said reflector to vary its axis of illumination, a i

spring for rcturningsaid reflector to original position, a campositioned' for engage ment with said sleeve vto simultaneously more thesource of light outwardly a distancecorresponding to the degree ofShifting movement of the reflector, to secure a new focal axiscoincident with the new axisof illumination', and a spring for returningthe sleevevto original positionl upon return of the reflector tooriginal position.

14. In combination with a reflector having a predetermined axis ofillumination, a source of light associated with said reflector andhaving a normal focal laxis coincident with said axis of illumination,and means for varying the axis of illumination without destroying thecoincidence of said axis with the focal axis of the light.

15; In combination, a tiltingyreflector and a source of light 'movingtherewith, and means for automatically changing the focal axis of saidsource of light during the movel ment thereof.

41.6.l In combination, a shiftahle reflector having a predetermined axisof illumination and a source of light moving' withsaid re. flector andhaving its focal axis normally coinciding with the axis of illuminationof the reflector in the normal osition of the reflector and having' avshi ted focal axis' coinciding with the new axis of illumination of thereflector when the reflector is shifted.` v `In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of 'two witnesses.

y CHARLES AIt.' C. BORDEN. lVitnc'sses Vic'ronIA LowDnN,

. AGNES V. OCoNNELL.

